TROY Board of Trustees extends Chancellor's contract

Posted: Tuesday, 15 October 2013

MONTGOMERY — The Troy University Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to extend the current contract of Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor, four years through Sept. 30, 2018.

Dr. Hawkins, who has served as Chancellor since 1989, was entering the last year of his existing contract, which ends Sept. 30, 2014. Trustees cited satisfaction with Dr. Hawkins' performance and the need for continuity of leadership as reasons for extending the contract.

“The Board of Trustees endorses the outstanding job that Chancellor Hawkins has done for over 25 years and continues to do every day," said Sen. Gerald Dial, President Pro Tempore of the Troy University Board of Trustees. “He has improved the quality of academics, established dozens of new degree programs, internationalized the campus and elevated Trojan athletics to the Division I level. I am confident that the University will continue to grow and prosper under his leadership in the years to come."

“Chancellor Hawkins has been a conscientious steward of our University's resources," said John Harrison, Vice President Pro Tempore and chair of the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees. “His sound fiscal management has enabled Troy University to get the most out of its resources to the benefit not only of students and faculty, but to the taxpayers of Alabama."

“This is an excellent move, especially given Troy University's history of long service by its Presidents and Chancellors," said Dr. Doug Hawkins, President Pro Tem Emeritus of the Board of Trustees and author of “Turning Points," a history of Troy University, which was published in 2013. “We have benefitted so much from having continuity in our leadership. This is a positive thing to continue to have Jack Hawkins as our Chancellor at TROY."

Dr. John M. Long, Director of Bands Emeritus at TROY, also voiced his approval of the move.

“It's the greatest thing that could possibly happen for Troy University because he's done such a fabulous job and everyone is so proud of his accomplishments at TROY," said Dr. Long. “Troy University is fortunate to keep Dr. Jack Hawkins -- there's nobody that could take his place; he's in a class by himself."

The TROY Chancellor said he was “honored and humbled" by the trustees' action.

“Troy University has been a labor of love for my wife Janice and me and we are grateful for the opportunity to keep working on behalf of this great University," Chancellor Hawkins said. “I believe the best is yet to be for TROY and I look forward to being a part of it."

Dr. Hawkins, a native of Mobile, Alabama, earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Montevallo and his doctorate from the University of Alabama. Upon completion of his bachelor's degree in 1967, Hawkins was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a platoon leader during the Vietnam War. For his combat duty, he received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and a citation from the Korean Marine Corps.

Dr. Hawkins has overseen an era of change and growth at TROY, as he led the merger of the worldwide Troy State University System into the unified Troy University, an initiative called “One Great University." More than $250 million has been invested in capital improvements by the Hawkins Administration, including new academic buildings on all four of TROY's Alabama campuses. Chancellor Hawkins served as the catalyst for the University's evolution to an international institution, as TROY has attracted record numbers of students from other nations and established teaching sites around the world. During his tenure, academic standards for admission have been increased, new degree programs were established in all academic colleges, and intercollegiate athletics joined the highest level of NCAA competition.

The meeting was held in the Lamar P. Higgins Conference Room in the Rosa Parks Library and Museum.